The decision comes after Jefferson County Public Schools was informed by the Office of Head Start “that just a single additional substantiated staff incident could jeopardize” its grant status, according to an agenda item for Tuesday’s board meeting.

The decision comes after Jefferson County Public Schools was informed by the Office of Head Start “that just a single additional substantiated staff incident could jeopardize” its grant status, according to an agenda item for Tuesday’s board meeting.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Former Male High School principal David Mike has requested that his appeal hearing scheduled for next month be conducted in public.

William Walsh, the attorney representing Mike, said Friday he is going to prove that his client is innocent and that Mike should get his job back from Jefferson County Public Schools.

"We feel the more people who know the facts, the better," Walsh said. "We want to clear up any misunderstandings and give David an opportunity to vindicate himself."

"I have nothing to hide," Mike added."I want the public to know the truth."

The hearing will take place at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9 at the Jefferson County Board of Education. Dec. 10 and 12 are also reserved for the case if the extra time is needed, said Nancy Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education.

Under state law, the three-member tribunal consisting of a teacher, an administrator and a lay person, none of whom reside in Jefferson County, will conduct an administrative hearing and determine whether or not Mike can get his job back.

During the tribunal, both sides will subpoena witnesses to appear and testify in the case and the witnesses will be subject to cross examination by the other side.

Susan Durant with the Kentucky Attorney General's office will serve as the hearing officer. The Kentucky Department of Education is still in the process of identifying those who will serve on the tribunal, Rodriguez said Friday.

The law states that if after the hearing the decision of the tribunal is against termination of the contract, "the suspended teacher shall be paid his full salary for any period of suspension."

If the tribunal rules against Mike, the law says he has the right to appeal the decision to Jefferson Circuit Court.

Mike received his termination letter from Hargens on Oct. 28, nearly a year after testing improprieties were first alleged at Male High School. The letter said Mike did not create a proper testing environment and that he told a teacher to destroy documents.

The two other Male High staffers involved in the testing scandal, guidance counselor Rhonda Branch and former teacher Debbie Greenberg, are also under investigation by the district.

Greenberg retired from JCPS on July 1, while Branch remains employed but has been reassigned to central office duty pending the outcome of the district's separate investigation.

As of Friday, there has been no determination of final action in Branch's investigation, therefore, a copy of the investigative report requested by WDRB News under the state's open records law, is still preliminary, said JCPS spokesman Ben Jackey.

“It was a very hard decision to make, because I am not ready to just sit at home for the rest of my life. But I have never been one to gamble. And I am tired of the worrying over whether my pension will be there or not. So I decided it was my time to go."

“It was a very hard decision to make, because I am not ready to just sit at home for the rest of my life. But I have never been one to gamble. And I am tired of the worrying over whether my pension will be there or not. So I decided it was my time to go."

Investigation states principal Tiffany Stith's actions have "effectively eliminated the (site-based decision making) council's authority at Smyrna Elementary School and put all authority into her hands."

Investigation states principal Tiffany Stith's actions have "effectively eliminated the (site-based decision making) council's authority at Smyrna Elementary School and put all authority into her hands."